The Battle of Allatoona Pass was fought in Bartow County, Georgia, on October 5, 1864. It was signals sent before the first gun was fired, however, that inspired one of America's most beloved Christian hymns.
"Hold the Fort!" was written in 1870 by Philip Paul Bliss, an evangelist and composer, after he heard the story of the Union defense of Allatoona Pass told in a Sunday School class. The use of signal flags to send messages from Kennesaw Mountain near Atlanta to the threatened garrison holding Allatoona Pass was held forth as an example of how Jesus Christ signals Christians to hold strong to their beliefs, for "He is coming."
The meeting attended by Bliss took place in Rockford, Illinois, on a Thursday and Friday, April 28-29, 1870. Among the speakers was Major Daniel Webster Whittle, who told how on the day before the battle, General William Tecumseh Sherman had sent messages by signal flag to urge the garrison at Allatoona to hold out.
Whittle remembered the message as saying, "Hold the Fort; I am coming!" After telling the story at a Sunday School meeting, Major Whittle made the application. This is an illustration of our spiritual conflict, of the need to remain faithful to our charge, and continue on until Christ comes again. Christians should not be dismayed by Satan and his power. We have the promise that Jesus Christ is coming again!
Mr. Bliss was present at the Sunday School meeting when Major Whittle told this story when Whittle told this story and the song was born in his mind. The next day Bliss went on the platform and wrote the chorus of this hymn on the blackboard. Then he sang the verses for the first time in public and the audience joined in the chorus.
The song has been sung and played in Christian churches for more than a century and is loved by many. Curiously, a version with different words is used as a rally song by labor unions in Great Britain and the Carribean.
In 1876, Whittle and Bliss actually visited Georgia and climbed to the top of Kennesaw Mountain. There they saw the ruins of the Civil War signal tower and in the distance could see the Allatoona Mountains. It was a moving moment for both men and after kneeling in prayer, they sang "Hold the Fort" together. Bliss told a friend that he almost expected to see Jesus returning in the sky at that moment.
Philip Paul Bliss went on to his Heavenly reward before that year was out. A railroad bridge collapsed in Ashtabula, Ohio, on December 29, 1876, sending a train crashing into Ashtabula Creek. Kerosene lamps in the cars shattered, igniting a fire that burned many passengers alive. Among them were Philip Paul Bliss and his wife.
As is often the case, the story of the signals sent to Allatoona as told by Whittle differed somewhat from reality. General Sherman himself wrote of the incident in a letter dated June 22, 1875. While he remembered some of the details used by Whittle at the Sunday School Convention, he also noted, "I do not think I used the words 'Hold the Fort'. "Sherman's memory was correct. The two messages sent by flag to Allatoona from Kennesaw Mountain on October 4, 1864, read as follows: Sherman is moving in force; Hold Out! General Sherman says Hold Fast. We are coming.
As Sherman himself later noted, however, while he didn't say "Hold the Fort," that was undoubtedly his intent. And in doing so, one of the Civil War's toughest general inspired one of Christianity's greatest songs.
The promise of Christ's return was given centuries and Christians have waited for it to happen. While we have no idea when these events will happen, we are to wait and look for His promises to be fulfilled You might say we are to hold the fort as we wait.
- Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.
- See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on;Mighty ones around us falling, courage almost goneo Refrain
- See the glorious banner waving! Hear the trumpet blow!In our Leader's Name we triumph over every foe. Refrain
- Fierce and long the battle rages, but our help is near;Onward comes our great Commander, cheer, my comrades, cheer! Refrain
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